The Younger Agent - Natasha Romanoff x OC

Chapter 72 - The Birth Of A Vision

Upon arrival at the tower, the Cradle was moved into Stark and Banner's lab. Eleanor slowly followed behind the group, her legs felt like jelly and her head felt spaced out like someone was slowly inflating a balloon within her brain. She had to keep blinking and looking around with wide eyes to stop them from closing permanently and having her body flop to the floor. 

The only thing that was stopping her mind and body from shutting down due to pain and exhaustion from being used as a chew toy by Ultron, was the need to start tracking Natasha down. So, ignoring how her knees were close to buckling with each step, she headed over to the lab.

Looking around, she just wanted to cry. Natasha was somewhere out there alone and in the hands of a robot who wanted to end the world and had killed to send a message before. It wasn't much reassurance to her that she could guarantee that her wife was alive, though she was hopeful as Ultron hadn't sent a photo over as he had done with Strucker. She was praying for it to stay that way. 

Bruce and Tony were on the other side of the lab doing God knows what, and Steve had scuttled off to somewhere else in the tower with Wanda and Pietro to get them some food and drink, so Eleanor naturally followed Clint over to the cradle. She wrapped her arms around herself as she walked forward, seeking some form of warmth and comfort. 

She stood a few steps back from the Cradle, wanting nothing to do with it. It was that machine that had allowed Ultron the opportunity to build a body, consequently making the Avengers chase after it and leading to Natasha's disappearance. Eleanor knew it was silly to blame the Cradle itself, it was an impressive piece of technology with the ability to save lives, but it was tricky for her not to feel some distaste towards it. They gained the Cradle and lost Natasha. 

Clint on the other hand jumped on top of it and crouched to be able to get a good look at whatever was inside and to see if they could get it open. "What the hell", he mumbled. This did pique her interest, but she was still hesitant to move forward. "El, come look", Clint waved her over. She rolled her eyes slightly but moved forward, she didn't care about the Cradle anymore, she just wanted to start the search for Natasha. 

But when she peered into the top of the glass she couldn't help but get lost in what was there. She narrowed her eyes at it and tried to take it all in. Lying down inside was a red man, presumably made of human tissue and vibranium, with a yellow stone in his head. On its own, it just looked like a human dipped in body paint, but with the materials it was made out of along with the gem, there was no doubt about it that this was a powerful being. 

"This thing is sealed tight", Clint hopped off of the Cradle when Bruce and Tony approached. Eleanor turned to face them but made sure to keep her face void of emotion, she didn't want their pity right now. Throughout the flight, Tony kept sending looks her way, and although he meant well she couldn't help but get frustrated by it.

"We're gonna need to access the program, break it down from within", Bruce placed his hand on the Cradle, standing next to Eleanor. Her nose scrunched slightly and she slipped out from beside the Cradle and made her way over to Clint.

"Any chance Natasha might leave you a message outside the Internet? Old-school spy stuff?", Tony turned to face the two whilst Bruce walked over to a computer.

"There are some nets we can cast", Clint tapped Eleanor's elbow to get her to follow, "We'll find her". With newfound determination, the pair went downstairs to where some old communications setups were stored. It had been a while since Eleanor had had to do things 'old-school', but it was like riding a bike. For many years before SHIELD technology hit its peak, they used all sorts of machines and programmes. It was also part of the recruitment training for just-in-case scenarios.